US Test of Minotaur II Launch Vehicle Ends in Explosion

© AP Photo / Matt HartmanA rocket launched by Firefly Aerospace, the latest entrant in the New Space sector, is seen lifting off from the central California coast on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. The Alpha rocket was "terminated" over the Pacific Ocean shortly after its 6:59 p.m. liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base, according to a base statement. (AP Photo/Matt Hartman)
A rocket launched by Firefly Aerospace, the latest entrant in the New Space sector, is seen lifting off from the central California coast on Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. The Alpha rocket was terminated over the Pacific Ocean shortly after its 6:59 p.m. liftoff from Vandenberg Space Force Base, according to a base statement. (AP Photo/Matt Hartman) - Sputnik International, 1920, 07.07.2022
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WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US military conducted a test launch of a Minotaur II launch vehicle that exploded 11 seconds after it launched, Vandenberg Space Force Base said in a press release on Thursday.
The Minotaur II rocket was carrying a new intercontinental ballistic missile reentry vehicle called the Mk21A, which is being developed jointly by the US Air Force and Lockheed Martin, according to reports earlier this week.
"A Minotaur II+ rocket exploded approximately 11 seconds after launching from Test Pad-01 at 11:01 p.m. PDT [Pacific Daylight Time] Wednesday," the base said in a press release.
An investigative review board is working to determine the cause of the explosion, the release said.
There were no injuries in the explosion and the debris was contained to the immediate vicinity of the launch pad, the release said.
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